Savney, We’ll Miss You Buddy! May Your Soul RIP

Savney, We’ll Miss You Buddy! May Your Soul RIP

Cancer Kills! A Jovial, Friendly and Affectionate Member of Team Mangalorean, Savney Monteiro lost his life with Cancer on Friday, 13 May 2016 at age 22. “Gone is the face we loved so dear, Silent is the voice we loved to hear; Too far away for thoughts to reach, sweet to remember him who was here, who, gone away is just as dear. Sadly missed. Savney : S- Silent and Calm; A- Always Active and Committed; V- Victorious; N-Noble Minded and Gratifying Young Man ; E -Ever-Ready and Helpful; Y-Youthful and Cheerful.Savney, We’ll Miss You Buddy! May Your Soul RIP

Mangaluru: I am quite sure that many of our ardent readers have enjoyed the reports and articles by Savney Monteiro-Team Mangalorean which were interesting and informative-but not anymore, since our dear colleague Savney left us all last night (Friday, 13 May 2016) around 10.20 pm to his heavenly abode, after a short battle with cancer, at a youthful age of 22. We all at Team Mangalorean are so devastated that a member of Mangalorean.com team who was so energetic, active and dedicated just couple of days ago is no more with us. Although I knew Savney only for few months since he joined our Team, but it seemed like we knew each other longer than that-for the fact that he was very friendly, courteous, respectful and faithful.

It was indeed shocking to hear when my boss Violet Pereira and her husband Joseph who had been by the bedside of Savney in the Intensive Care Unit at Kasturba Medical College Hospital-Attavar for hours called me and said to rush quickly since Savney was in a very critical condition. It was so painful and sad to see my once a “Happy buddy” lying on the hospital bed in such a condition. I did not know his death was near, but I guess that God knew he was suffering and the hills were hard to climb, so he closed his weary eyes and whispered “Peace be thine”. Sadly, Savney breathed his last at around 10.20 pm on 13 May. I miss Savney so dearly because he was warm and quick to make everyone feel comfortable. He had a special way that warmed the hearts of everyone who knew him and the qualities that made him the wonderful young man he was have left us all with many beautiful memories. He did touch hearts of many through his politeness, graciousness, and friendliness. Along with his dear Mother, a large crowd comprising of relatives and friends had shown up at the hospital during Savney’s last day on this earth.

Walking through the ICU at KMC, where nearly a dozen patients were on life support devices, and at a corner of the Unit was Savney lying on the bed also on life support devices – he could not see us, could not talk to us, could not move – but we all watched his final journey of life on earth. The doctors and nurses at KMC had tried their best to save his life, but God’s wish was different, to take away Savney to a better place in Heaven. Some people fight cancer with everything they have, every day that they take a breath. While you have done reading this tribute article, please take a moment to pray for Savney Monteiro and his bereaved family, for he was a great young man who was loved by all. I think of the eulogy every time I hear someone saying the “lost” phrase and I think this sums it up perfectly. I’ve watched him for a few months as a co-worker and as a friend, laughing and having fun with us all. We all knew he had an illness, but never talked anything about it. Cancer never stood a chance against him.

Yes, we all know that Cancer is a brutal disease. Many of our young and old dear ones/friends have lost their lives battling the disease. Cancer may have cut some people’s lives shorter than they would have been without having cancer. It may have prevented them from doing certain things while still living. Cancer may take away the joy we have from having these people with us on this earth longer than if they didn’t have cancer. We know Cancer had exhausted some of Savney’s strength. And we know it took his life. But cancer couldn’t dim his smile. And what a smile it was! Everything good, everything wholesome, everything pure about this young man was found in his smile. But there was more—a hint of joyfulness and fun, a sense of self-confidence, an unmistakable kindness. It was the kind of smile that drew people to him. That smile was there the first time I met him at the office, and that smile was still there the last time I saw him a couple of days ago. The ravages of cancer, chemo and radiation could not wipe it from his face. If anything, his smile was brighter and more joyous the last time I saw him. Cancer was helpless against it.

The last time we saw Savney happy and bubbling with enthusiasm was during “Mother-Daughter Look-Alike” prize distribution function held on Mother’s Day, 8 May at Ideal Cafe, where he was mingling and interacting with everyone, and he had also mentioned to Mukund Kamath, the Managing Partner of Ideal Ice Cream who was the chief guest there, that his intention is to become an investigative journalist in the future. According to his mom, Savney’s one ambition was to be active, alert and dedicated like his boss (Violet Pereira) in the field of journalism, and that he wanted to pursue his studies in journalism in Manipal. But Savney’s ambition to pursue his journalistic qualities to become a top journo didn’t last long, since he faced a sudden death five days later. Cancer was unable to break Savney’s spirit. His zest for life and the competitive fire burned brightly to the end. His confidence and adventurousness were undimmed. He took everything cancer could throw at him and kept going. He endured the pain that would have hobbled the toughest young man. He maintained a positive outlook in the bleakest of situations. Where was cancer’s victory in that? Cancer ripped a hole in the lives of everyone who loved Savney. Cancer left us devastated and heartsick. Cancer robbed the world of someone, a young man who would have done great things—someone who would have made a difference. But cancer did not beat Savney Monteiro. It never stood a chance.

Savney’s death will be an example for all of as he went through his cancer experience with courage, grace, and dignity since he was diagnosed with Lymphoma (Lymphoma is cancer that begins in infection-fighting cells of the immune system, called lymphocytes) disease since 2013. He suffered during the first stages of chemotherapy, and also later when he had to go through nearly 40 chemotherapy maintenance program. He did miss quite a few working days while employed with mangalorean.com, due to his sudden symptoms which were out of his control. I sometimes teased him not to be absent, because then I will have to cover his reporting–but Savney never took it very personally. I feel sorry now for my words, and I ask pardon from him. Over the years, Savney was cognizant of the fact that the illness of cancer was fatal, and despite that, he continued to seek the milestones of a youth, enjoying all the social and fun things that a youth could have. Once speaking to me about the chemotherapy that he had couple of years ago, which “really makes you step up to the plate and to be more mature”, Savney said “This cancer and the chemotherapy treatment makes you look at your life and at all the little things you might have taken for granted.”

Savney was born to Felix and Felciana Monteiro in the year 1994 at Vamanjoor, on the outskirts of Mangaluru. His mother is a housewife, while his dad works in Ajman-UAE, and will be coming down this morning. Savney did his early schooling at Milagres School-Mangaluru, and later his PUC and degree studies at St Aloysius College-Mangaluru. His elder brother, Sydney is employed with ITC hotels in Bengaluru. To pursue his journalistic interests, Savney had joined Mangalorean.con few months ago, and he was extremely good in his news reports and creative articles, which received praiseworthy comments in our comments blog. He wanted to do more and reach greater heights in the field of journalism, but God had His own way to take Savney to a different and better opportunities destination.

In Savney’s death, not only will his boss-Violet Pereira and rest of us will miss him, but one person who will miss Savney the most and dearly is Violet’s husband-Joseph, since both of them traveled together, accompanied together, to most of the daily events. More than colleagues at work, they were like brothers in a family. Our dear friend at work has left behind a very rich life, despite its shortness, wonderful memories for his friends and family. When cancer steals the life of someone you love, there are no words. Nothing. Simple words don’t do an entire lifetime justice. Nothing can explain why cancer swoops in….grabs a hold of someone who is dear to you….and swallows them whole. Nothing. It is with deep sadness that we lost our dear friend to cancer yesterday.

My heart feels like a block of lead that I can’t lift off the ground. The sadness makes me reflect on the loss of my colleague. I reflect on the fact that so many beautiful souls on this earth are taken away from us by this overwhelming disease. It is an epidemic of epidemic proportions. It is wrong. It is so painful. I pray that cancer will never take any of us away. Cancer scares me beyond belief. It takes my breath away. It makes me feel so small in a big fight. The death of our friend Savney is a reminder that cancer has no rhyme or reason. Cancer takes aim and shoots. Without a thought, without a care in the world. It has no feeling. It doesn’t care if you are young or old. Evil or kind. It doesn’t care. It just takes. How many loved ones does cancer need to take? It is like an angry dragon of fire that opens its mouth wide and bites with a vengeance. It has no mercy.

Like our colleague, Jyothi just mentioned that our office will be incomplete without Savney’s presence, we all at Team Mangalorean also feel the same. I truly believe Savney Monteiro is at peace and is united with his dear ones and friends in heavenly bliss. In conclusion, on behalf of Team Mangalorean, all I have to say to my dear buddy Savney is, ” We will all think of you in silence. We will often speak your name, now all we have are memories and your picture in a frame. Your memory is our keepsake with which we’ll never part. God bless you in his keeping, but we’ll always have you in our hearts and in our memories. You are sadly missed by all of us at Team Mangalorean, your family, your friends, and of course, your readers/fans. I end this tribute column with a quote, “Those who have lived a good life do not fear death, but meet it calmly and even long for it in the face of great suffering. But those who do not have a peaceful conscience dread death as though life means nothing but physical torment. The challenge is to live our life so that we will be prepared for death when it comes”.

And, After Death
A human boat,
Ferried by cats!
A dog chain,
Tied to a human!
The African boxer,
Sings tonight’s opera!
A dying person,
Live to be a hundred!
The chief swimmer,
Drowns in his vomit!

A lake,
Filled with honey!
A tired person,
Forgets to sleep!
A poor beggar,
Is the leading gambler!
A precious gift,
Donated to charity!
The sweet maker,
Loves only spices!
In the zoo,
Monkeys are spectators!
This may look and seem so stupid….
But beneath that chemo wig,
Is your sprouting hair!
After your crucifixion,
There is life!
After being bedridden,
Yes, you will run!
And, after death,
You will LIVE!